Decoding Patient Pain Language

In a bright seminar room at Seattle General Hospital, three clinical staff members are reviewing patient interview footage for a nursing workshop.

Decoding Patient Pain Language

True or false?

Steve thinks crushing pain always indicates cardiac events.

• True
• False

Patrick shares a story about a patient who used five different pain words in one day.

• True
• False

The patient with five pain words had fluctuating blood sugar levels.

• True
• False

Laura feels worried after hearing Patrick's story.

• True
• False

The conversation takes place at Seattle General Hospital.

• True
• False

Listen again and complete the sentences

• Laura: Well, Steve, I'm immediately thinking of cardiac events or severe thoracic pressure. It's an ____ term that usually points straight to myocardial ischemia.
• Patrick: That's true, but we've also seen patients use crushing for severe musculoskeletal spasms. They're ____ and terrified, so they exaggerate the vocabulary.
• Laura: Stabbing is definitely sharper, often intermittent. It's ____ for anyone hearing it in triage. You're trying to figure out if it's pleuritic or colic.
• Patrick: First he called it a dull ache, then throbbing, then cramping, then pins and needles, and finally burning. He wasn't even ____ when we gave him analgesics.
• Laura: I'm really glad you shared that story, Patrick. It's so ____ to know we're not the only ones dealing with complex, talkative patients.

Sources: photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels